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Thursday, March 24, 2011

Wow, this review has been hiding in my drafts pile since, uh December? Definitely pre-pregnancy due to the PBR I indulged in. What I wouldn't give for one of those now :)Anyways, enjoy the review and be sure to check out Maple & Motor if you have a hankering for a good burger.

I'm definitely a little late to the Maple & Motor party but I'm glad I decided to stop in for a bite nonetheless. Maple & Motor is a great little burger joint and is open for lunch or dinner. I'd been wanting to give it a try for a while, I spied the cool revamped architecture a while back and the "burgers & beer" beckoned. Finally I had my chance at a late lunch on a Friday afternoon.

The atmosphere at Maple & Motor is fun, there's booths and tables, and what I think was a jukebox in the back. The walls pay homage to some of the other colorful restaurants in the neighborhood, and the chalkboard menu gives this place a homey feel. I ordered a straight up jalapeno cheeseburger (I chickened out and went for pickled jalapenos instead of fresh) with onion rings and a tall boy.

The burger was really good, it had a nicely seasoned hand-formed patty with plenty of cheese and toppings. The bun, although a bit greasy, held up nicely to the burger. The onion rings were average but good. And my PBR tall boy was ice cold. I'll definitely be back for another taste.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

The first time I tried lengua I was at an East Dallas taqueria with my uncle. I must've been around ten years old. He handed me a "beef" taco and I happily devoured every last bite. It was delicious.Only after the fact did he inform me that it was lengua, and that lengua is actually cow tongue. Surprisingly I was unaffected and just wanted another taco. Lengua continues to be one of my favorite taco fillings and its always the first thing I try at a new taqueria. Here's how to make it at home.

Rinse the tongue and place in a large crockpot*. Add onions, garlic, bay leaves, oregano, peppercorns, salt, and comino. Cover with water and cook on low, about 6 hours.

Remove the tongue from the broth and set on a cutting board to cool for a moment. While its still warm peel off the skin. (Its easiest to start peeling at the back of the tongue and tug forward) Cut away the base of the tongue where it was attached to the mouth (this part is tough).

Slice the tongue crossways in 1/2" slices, then dice it. Sautee the tomatoes, onion, serrano, and garlic in a little oil until cooked through and fragrant. Add the cubed tongue and 1/2-1c of the cooking liquid. Season to taste with salt, pepper, comino, and chili powder. Simmer briefly to reduce the liquid.

Serve in corn tortillas with onion, cilantro, lime and fresh salsa.

*Alternately you can make this in a stockpot. Bring the water to a boil, add the tongue, onions, garlic, and seasonings. Reduce heat to simmer and cook about 1 hour per lb.